Prime Minister Narendra Modi on Wednesday inaugurated the first phase of the long-awaited Navi Mumbai International Airport (NMIA),&nbsp;a project that marks a new milestone in India&rsquo;s aviation infrastructure.
Developed jointly by the Adani Group and the City Industrial Development Corporation (CIDCO), the airport has been built at a staggering cost of ₹19,650 crore. With this, Mumbai joins the ranks of global metropolises like London, New York, and Tokyo, which operate multiple international airports serving the same region.
Operations at the state-of-the-art facility are expected to begin in December 2025, with ticket sales likely to open by the end of October. Airlines including IndiGo, Akasa Air, and Air India Express are set to operate the first round of flights. But it&rsquo;s not just the architecture or size that sets the Navi Mumbai International Airport apart, it&rsquo;s the technology. Designed as&nbsp;India&rsquo;s first fully digital airport, NMIA promises a seamless, stress-free experience for travelers.
&ldquo;You will be able to get a message on your phone telling you, for example, that your bag is number 20 on the carousel,&rdquo; said Arun Bansal, CEO of Adani Airports Holdings Limited (AAHL), calling NMIA an &ldquo;anxiety-free&rdquo; airport. &nbsp;The first phase is just the beginning: the airport will eventually be developed in five stages, transforming Navi Mumbai into a major aviation and logistics hub for the region.
With Mumbai&rsquo;s primary airport nearing capacity, NMIA is expected to handle millions of passengers annually once fully operational, reducing congestion and elevating India&rsquo;s global connectivity footprint. As the inaugural flights prepare for takeoff later this year, Navi Mumbai International Airport stands as a symbol of India&rsquo;s fast-evolving infrastructure and its aspiration to match global standards in efficiency, innovation, and experience.

Navi Mumbai Airport Takes Off with PM Modi

India’s first fully digital airport to begin flights this December, built at ₹19,650 crore

Navi Mumbai Airport Takes Off with PM Modi

India’s first fully digital airport to begin flights this December, built at ₹19,650 crore

October 9, 2025 | 24:06 IST